Breath-powered scent distribution hunting mask

Abstract

Device embodiments use a person's exhaled breath to distribute an evaporated, sublimated, or vaporized material. The disclosure provides non-powered devices that use evaporation or sublimation to create the vapor that is distributed and the disclosure provides devices with electric vaporizers which rapidly vaporize liquid scent materials for distribution. The scent can be designed as a masking or cover scent, an aromatic lure scent, a scent elimination material, a pleasant scent for freshening air in a room or automobile, or a repellant scent. The device can be worn as a mask or configured as a game call.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A hunting mask wearable by a human hunter over the hunter's mouth and nose; the mask comprising:
 a mask body including at least one inhalation valve that permits inhalation and blocks exhalation; 
 the mask body including at least one exhalation valve that permits exhalation and blocks inhalation; the exhalation valve including an exhalation valve member that closes the exhalation valve during inhalation; 
 the exhalation valve including an exterior cap; 
 a scent material carrier being disposed downstream of the exhalation valve member between the exterior cap and the exhalation valve member; the scent material carrier including a scent material; and 
 the scent material carrier being disposed to be contacted by the hunter's exhalation as the hunter's exhaled breath flows out of the exhalation valve member such that the hunter's exhalation combines with the scent material from the scent material carrier and a portion of the scent material exits the mask body in combination with the hunter's exhalation. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the scent material carrier is a non-powered device that releases the scent material in response to the user's exhaled breath. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the scent material is one of a masking scent, a cover scent, an aromatic scent, and a repellant scent. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a filter carried by the mask body upstream of the scent material carrier. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 4 , wherein the filter includes activated carbon. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the scent material carrier is one of a porous packet of loose powder. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the scent material carrier is one of a wetted sponge that holds a liquid-based scent material, a wetted cloth that holds a liquid-based scent material, and a wetted mass of fibrous material that holds a liquid-based scent material. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the scent material carrier has a solid disc-shaped body provided with a plurality of openings to allow for the passage of exhaled breath and to increase the surface area of the scent material carrier for contact with the exhaled breath. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the scent material carrier defines a plurality of openings. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the scent material carrier is a semi-permeable solid that is soaked in a scented liquid. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the scent material carrier is formed from a polymer impregnated blended with a scent material. 
     
     
       12. A hunting mask wearable by a human hunter over the hunter's mouth and nose; the mask comprising:
 a mask body including at least one inhalation valve that permits inhalation and blocks exhalation; 
 the mask body including at least one exhalation valve that permits exhalation and blocks inhalation; the exhalation valve including an exhalation valve member that closes the exhalation valve during inhalation; 
 a scent material carrier being disposed downstream of the exhalation valve member; the scent material carrier including a scent material; 
 the scent material carrier being disposed to be contacted by the hunter's exhalation as the hunter's exhaled breath flows out of the exhalation valve member such that the hunter's exhalation combines with the scent material from the scent material carrier and a portion of the scent material exits the mask body in combination with the hunter's exhalation; 
 wherein the scent material carrier defines a plurality of openings; and 
 wherein an outer perimeter edge of the scent material carrier defines a plurality of channels that define air paths between the scent material carrier and the mask body. 
 
     
     
       13. A hunting mask wearable by a human hunter over the hunter's mouth and nose; the mask comprising:
 a mask body including at least one inhalation valve that permits inhalation and blocks exhalation; 
 the mask body including an exhalation valve that permits exhalation and blocks inhalation; the exhalation valve including an exhalation valve member that closes the exhalation valve during inhalation; 
 a scent material carrier being carried by the exhalation valve; the scent material carrier being disposed downstream of the exhalation valve member; 
 the scent material carrier including a scent material; 
 the scent material carrier defining a plurality of openings; and 
 the scent material carrier being disposed to be contacted by the hunter's exhalation as the hunter's exhaled breath flows out of the exhalation valve member such that the hunter's exhalation combines with the scent material from the scent material carrier and a portion of the scent material exits the mask body in combination with the hunter's exhalation. 
 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 13 , wherein an outer perimeter edge of the scent material carrier defines a plurality of channels that define air paths between the scent material carrier and the exhalation valve. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 13 , wherein the scent material carrier is a non-powered device that releases the scent material in response to the user's exhaled breath. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 13 , wherein the scent material is one of a masking scent, a cover scent, an aromatic scent, and a repellant scent. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 13 , further comprising a filter carried by the mask body upstream of the scent material carrier. 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 17 , wherein the filter includes activated carbon.